Last minute training for Wetherby Wanderers!

This weekend, the Wetherby Wanderers team hit the snow covered hills of the Peak District, in a last ditched attempt to get some valuable training in, before their exciting expedition next month.

In just over two weeks time, Paul Kirby, Vicki Yates & John Armstrong will be flying out to Tanzania, in an attempt to scale the dizzying heights of Mount Kilimanjaro. At a staggering 5896 meters, Kilimanjaro is the highest mountain in Africa; and in fact the highest freestanding mountain in the world!

In addition to the gruelling walk itself, the team will have the fluctuations in weather to contend with (from 30°C at base camp during the day, to sub-zero temperatures at the peak); the challenges of sleeping in a tent atop a mountain and also the differences in altitude. As challenges go, it’s going to be mightily tough – 11 days in total – but the three of them are once again fully committed to raising as much money as possibly for their individual charities.

“The goal is to raise a massive £12,000.00 this year, to be split equally between our three fabulous charities (details below). I’m happy to say we’ve had a number of generous donations so far, but we still have a VERY long way to go!

“We’d like to ask all our supporters out there, old and new, to please dig deep in their pockets and help these fantastic causes; because no matter how small – every penny truly counts.”

If you’d like to make a donation, you can do so by clicking the button below. Alternatively cheques and postal orders can be mailed to Wetherby’s Head Office address marked for the attention of John Armstrong.

PAUL KIRBY is walking for PARKINSONS UK

Parkinson’s is a progressive neurological condition with no known cure. They fund research into finding better treatments and ways to improve the quality of life for people with Parkinson’s as well as having a national helpline and local support workers. It is more common than people think and one person in every 500 has the disease – that’s about 127,000 people in the UK. After Paul’s family where recently touched by this terrible disease he has vowed to do all he can to help Parkinson’s UK in their quest for a cure. Read more about PARKINSON’S UK here: http://www.parkinsons.org.uk/

VICKI YATES is walking for DONNA LOUISE CHILDREN’S HOSPICE

Vicki has chosen another extremely worthwhile cause. The Donna Louise Children’s Hospice is a registered children’s charity who provide care and support services for children with shortened life expectancies or those who, due to illness or injury, have a life-threatening or life-limiting condition. The charity provides a whole host of services for affected children and their families in the Staffordshire & Cheshire areas; these include community support, a 24 hour advice line, specialist play and activities, sibling support and end of life care in the hospice. Read more about this fabulous charity here: http://www.donnalouisetrust.org/

JOHN ARMSTRONG is walking for THE DOWN’S SYNDROME ASSOCIATION

It will come as no surprise that John has chosen the Down’s Syndrome Association as his charity. Many of you will know that he and his wife were blessed with their son Harry in 2011. Harry was born with Down’s Syndrome and this charity have played an invaluable role in offering their family guidance, support and training over the past few years. Harry will celebrate his 5th birthday the day before the team returns to the UK. The motto of the DSA is to “help people with Down’s syndrome to live full and rewarding lives”. They are entirely dependent on charitable donations and receive no government funding. Find out more about the great work the DSA do: http://www.downs-syndrome.org.uk/